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The CMS says it will release physician payment data on a case-by-case basis after careful review of each request under a policy that will go into effect March 18. Care will be taken to consider physicians' privacy concerns and to prevent misuse and misunderstandings of any data that will be released, according to CMS Principal Deputy Administrator Jonathan Blum. The American Medical Association and several other physician groups have called for the CMS to move cautiously in releasing physician data.

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Ramesh Chand, a member of the National Institution for Transforming India Aayog, says the Indian government should consider using biotech pulses to decrease dependence on imported crops and address higher food prices and rising demand. "Short-term options are extremely restricted as far as prices of pulses are concerned. Hence, in the long run, the government should attempt using [biotech] pulses on a case-by-case basis to substantially increase domestic production," Chand said.

CMS Deputy Administrator Sean Cavanaugh said Medicare Part D reversed its decision to deny specific hepatitis C drugs based on guidelines that were unavailable when the original decision was made. The CMS is awaiting recommendations on how to maximize the treatments and which patients should have initial access to them, Cavanaugh told the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In the meantime, Part D contractors can approve payments for the expensive new treatments on a case-by-case basis.

CMS revised its policy on releasing data on Medicare payments to individual physicians, saying it will consider Freedom of Information Act requests for the data on a case-by-case basis. In September, the AAFP asked the agency to modify its policy, saying while the release of the information may have potential value, it must have safeguards to ensure it is not misconstrued or misused and is provided with appropriate context.

The CMS will release physician payment data on a "case-by-case basis" after careful review of each request, according to officials. Care will be taken to weigh physician privacy concerns and prevent misuse of any data that is released, according to CMS principal deputy administrator Jonathan Blum. However, the American Medical Association and several other physician groups urged caution prior to the CMS announcement, citing concerns regarding limitations of the data, including that Medicare data is susceptible to misinterpretation and may represent only a small fraction of physicians' patients.

The case of Jahi McMath, whose family fought to keep her on life support even after she was declared brain dead, supports research data showing racial differences in end-of-life care priorities, author Janell Ross writes. A Pew Research Center poll found 33% of blacks said there were circumstances under which patients should be allowed to die, while 65% of non-Hispanic whites agreed with the statement.